Hour 2: Leading The League In Corny (feat. David Samson)

Summary

Podcast Summary

The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz: Hour 2 - "Leading the League In Corny" (feat. David Samson)

Date: April 2, 2026

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Episode Overview

Broadcasting from the Elser Hotel in Downtown Miami, Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, and the crew gather for an energetic and wide-ranging hour focused primarily on sports, with their trademark humor and shift into pop culture tangents. Topics include NBA Hall of Fame debates (Amar’e Stoudemire), memorable sports media personalities (Charles Barkley, Bill Raftery), a public athlete rehab story (Puka Nacua), the “corniest” NFL quarterback rooms, and an extended, playful baseball trivia game. Special guest David Samson adds expert analysis and witty banter during the "Pitch Clock" baseball segment.

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Key Discussions & Insights

1. The Amar’e Stoudemire Hall of Fame Debate [00:53-04:10]

• Debate on Stoudemire’s Credentials: Stugotz is surprised Amar’e is seen as a Hall of Famer, arguing his peak wasn’t on the level of all-time greats like Garnett, Duncan, or Dirk.
• Context Matters: Dan and others point out the Basketball Hall's less-stringent standards and note Amar’e’s strong career in Phoenix, MVP-level play in New York, and resilience after injuries.
• Acknowledgment of Challenges: Mike shares a vivid practice story highlighting Amar’e’s physical dominance (“he dunked so hard, it felt like a sonic boom...the wind blew me off my feet” – Mike, [03:00]).
• Playful Banter About Identity: The crew jokes about Stugotz’s “hatred” for Stoudemire with mock accusations regarding religious bias, underscoring their irreverent tone.

2. Charles Barkley’s Unique Place in Sports Media [04:49-07:44]

• Dan reflects on Barkley’s authenticity, long-lasting influence, and recent emotional on-air discussion about immigration, lamenting the lack of broader attention.
• Barkley’s vulnerability and longevity (“four decades is not normal… but he’s human in a way that people still relate to” – Dan, [06:30]) set him apart.

3. Athlete Rehab, Image Management & Puka Nacua Story [07:44-13:37]

• Stugotz opens up a discussion on Puka Nacua's publicized entry into rehab before any league sanction, noting it’s unusual for pro athletes to get ahead of bad publicity by openly seeking help.
• Mike explains most addicts seek treatment only after public “crash outs,” arguing proactive steps are rare ([09:17-09:40]).
• The crew riffs on Nacua’s attorney, poking fun at his look and comparisons to Chris Cody, leading to a running joke about aging and cowboy hats.

4. Leading the League In "Corny": NFL Quarterback Rooms [18:11-21:12]

• Dan is obsessed with the “corny quotient” in the Las Vegas Raiders’ QB room: Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza. The group imagines the excessively earnest, wholesome energy of their first handshake.
• “Some of my friends tell me I’m super cool. Good hang.” – Dan, channeling the stereotypical QB, [19:17]
• They debate what “cool” means for a QB: Stugotz asks if it matters, with Dan arguing corniness isn’t inherently negative. Names like Mahomes, Russell Wilson, Brock Purdy, Bo Nix, and Joe Burrow are compared for “coolness” ([19:30-21:12]).
• Memorable line: “Iron sharpens iron, man. This is the perfect mentor for Fernando Mendoza...it’s a literal match made in heaven.” – Dan & Tony, [20:15, 20:40]

5. NBA Stat Lines, Wembanyama’s Ascendancy, and MVP Talk [22:21-24:01]

• Mike and Tony discuss Victor Wembanyama’s record-breaking performances—multiple 40+ point, 10+ rebound games in under 30 minutes.
• They reference the debate of “cool vs. try-hard” in NBA MVP discussions, lauding Wemby’s candidness about wanting the award ([23:16-24:01]).

6. “Looks Like” Tournament: The Comedy Parade [24:30-27:09]

• The crew runs through their iconic "Looks Like" playoff—jokingly comparing sports figures to everyday characters:
  • “Lou Holtz looks like a train conductor.”
  • “Jay Cutler looks like the guy trying to break into a house on an alarm company commercial.” – Dan, [24:46-24:57]
  • “Adam Silver looks like a newly opened Chapstick.” – Dan, [26:14]
  • The segment hits its comedic peak but is momentarily marred by a mistaken photo, evoking classic show chaos and self-deprecation.

7. The “Pitch Clock” Segment: Baseball Trivia & Opening Week Talk [30:42-49:14]

[32:05-49:14] Extended baseball focus – see detailed segment below

• Host Louis leads Jeremy and others in a nostalgic, competitive team-building baseball trivia game based on “ISO” (isolated power) stats. The rules force them to spend $15 and select one player from each price tier/position.
• The contest is lively, competitive, and full of nostalgia—showing off the group’s baseball knowledge and playful arguing over picks.
• Special guest David Samson gives his take on early MLB season surprises and the impact of new rules like the ABS system (“…this will be the most important change in your lifetime. The strategy is significant.” – David Samson, [36:58])
• Samson points out the strategic similarities between challenge systems and old National League managing, highlights the Guardians’ scrappy start, and offers a cautionary view of aging teams like the Phillies.
• David ends with thoughts on the World Baseball Classic’s impact and owners’ perception if stars underperform post-tournament ([43:54-45:25]).

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Mike on Amar’e Stoudemire’s finishing ability:
  “This guy was so incredible at making finishes at the rim without actually dunking the ball because his hands were so good…he dunked so hard, it felt like a sonic boom. It knocked me back off my feet.” [03:00]

• Dan on Charles Barkley:
  “…there has never been anyone in the history of sports broadcasting like him. No one is allowed to endure for as long as he has as an American voice…” [05:47-06:30]

• Stugotz reflecting on QB personalities:
  “Even his defiance we laugh at because it’s just…no, you’re corny and you’re defiant. Your crowning achievement moment—it’s not easy to throw for 400 yards in that league. We still think you’re corny.” [19:05-19:38]

• David Samson on ABS impact:
  “This one is major…The amount of strategy that is required given the parameters is significant…It makes me wistful because I loved being in the National League when pitchers had to hit.” [36:58]

• On Wembanyama’s MVP campaign:
  “I welcome every time Victor Wembanyama gets aggressive and campaigns for any of these things…it forces other guys to react.” – Mike, [23:23-23:49]

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Structure & Important Timestamps

• [00:53] Amar’e Stoudemire Hall of Fame debate
• [04:49] Charles Barkley’s “old guy” TV moment & media legacy
• [07:44] Athlete public rehab: Puka Nacua discussion
• [13:37] End of attorney/Cowboy hat jokes
• [18:11] “Leading the League in Corny” – NFL QB rooms
• [22:21] Wembanyama’s stat lines & MVP attitude
• [24:30] "Looks Like" Tournament Finals & Comedy Parade
• [30:42-49:14] Pitch Clock Baseball Game/Trivia & MLB Week 1 Analysis ft. David Samson

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Tone & Style

The episode retains the Le Batard show’s signature irreverence, deep sports nerdery, layered inside-jokes, and a rolling, conversational style. There’s plenty of rapid-fire teasing (especially about age/hats/lawyers), affectionate mockery (of “corny” NFL QBs), and frequent audio “hand-offs” as the crew pivots between earnest debate and running gags. David Samson’s “Pitch Clock” baseball segment adds a more analytical, yet still playful, flavor to close out the hour.

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For New Listeners

This hour of The Dan Le Batard Show offers robust sports discussion shaped by fandom, stats, and personality—with humor always close at hand. Even in the deeper baseball and football debates, there’s an accessible, communal feel, making it easy to follow even if you missed the episode. The highlight segments — corny quarterback discussion and the “Pitch Clock” trivia — are particularly fun insights into what makes the show unique.

Transcript

[Dan Le Batard]

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[Dan Le Batard (show host)]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats podcast.

[Stugats]

Any other thoughts here? Amari Stoudemire is a Hall of Famer. I wouldn't have immediately gone there. I wouldn't have immediately assumed hall of Famer.

[Dan Le Batard]

I would have immediately got that out

[Tony]

of high school, dominated the league for

[Dan Le Batard]

a couple of years. Yeah, especially when you consider, like how gracious this hall of Fame is compared to the other sports. But yeah, incredible career in Phoenix was talked about, rightfully so, for much of a season, his first season in New York as as an MVP candidate and dealt with a lot of adversity in his career, in his life. Yeah. And like to be able to battle back from the injuries that he had previous to New York and reach those levels again. Really impressive.

[Mike]

So Amar', E, first of all, you talk about his peak, a strong six to eight years right up there with Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki as one of the best power forwards in the game.

[Stugats]

He beneath all of them. I would say. No, I don't even mean that as an indictment because he was top five in MVP voting. But those were all better players than he was. Right. And I also don't mean to diminish him when I say that he did with Steve Nash. But when they revolutionized how basketball was being played, it was at least in part because he had a number two in Nash that those other guys you just mentioned did not.

[Mike]

Well, I think the thing that a lot of people would point to is that technically Amari was the number two. Steve Nash was the one who got a lot of the credit.

[Stugats]

Two MVPs.

[Mike]

Yeah, but it was a symbiotic relationship because.

[Stugats]

But all those guys are number ones. You just mentioned all the others. And again, I don't mean to indict him. I'm just saying when you guys have such a different opinion than me on me Being like, well, Amari Stoudemire had a really, really great career. And he wouldn't have gone in automatically by my metric. Unless you're making the Basketball hall of Fame a lot less hard to get into, which you do, than the other halls of fame.

[Mike]

You guys are doing this thing where it's like, you can never give anyone credit for having a Hall of Fame career. You have to undercut it immediately by saying, oh, but the Basketball Hall. No, no, let's not do that.

[Dan Le Batard]

I don't think this is one of those cases.

[Mike]

Yeah, like, this guy's a Hall of Fame.

[Dan Le Batard]

Is he a gold medal winner?

[Mike]

Gold medal winner, yep. And he, like, when you talk about going to New York, that was a crater that no one wanted to go to. Nobody wanted to go there.

[Stugats]

And he went there, reinvented them for a season.

[Mike]

And it's not because he fell off a cliff, basketball wise. His knee gave out under it and

[Stugats]

he punched a fire extinguisher, leaving the court in a playoff game.

[Mike]

But that's not why his career.

[Dan Le Batard]

Sounds like you hate Amari Sukho.

[Tony]

Yeah. Like, what's your deal with Stack?

[Louis]

That anti Semitism continues to rear its ugly head with Dan Levittard.

[Mike]

The thing about Amar' e Dan was that he was probably the best finisher in basketball in his prime. There was nobody who was better at finishing. Everyone thinks of the dunks, but I'm telling you, this guy was so incredible at making finishes at the rim without actually dunking the ball because his hands were so good. He had great hands. He catch anything you throw him and he'd finish. I remember being on the practice court and a drill was kind of like we got to get a certain number of shots up in a two minute span. And Amari dunked so hard, it felt like a sonic boom. It knocked me back off my feet. Like, he never made contact with me. But the dunk was so forceful, the wind blew me off my feet and I fell down and everyone laughed. Go to time.

[Dan Le Batard]

That really happened.

[Mike]

That really happened. Why did I turn this dunk right there? Really happened.

[Stugats]

Why is he back? I haven't listened to much of anything you were saying because I was startled by my hatred of Amari Stoudemire.

[Mike]

I'm startled by it, too.

[Stugats]

It surprised me. It came out of me. But it's not because he's Jew.

[Chris Cody]

Hmm.

[Mike]

No.

[Louis]

I'm pretty sure you were also pissed off Sue Bird got in last year.

[Mike]

Sue Bird's Jewish.

[Dan Le Batard]

Are you not an ally?

[Stugats]

That's not in any way True. You just made up a total day.

[Louis]

I remember.

[Dan Le Batard]

And there was a moment of growth for Dan to just come out and admit and embrace.

[Stugats]

Whoa. You can't say that.

[Louis]

Feels like I can. It just. It sounds like I can't, but I can.

[Mike]

It's funny because it's a word, right? It's a real word.

[Louis]

Jew.

[Mike]

Yeah.

[Stugats]

Well, this Charles Barkley came on one time and spelled it.

[Jeremy]

I thought.

[Dan Le Batard]

I would have thought that Charles Barkley would have gotten more like aggregation and fanfare. I don't know if you guys saw what he did on cbs.

[Jeremy]

He.

[Dan Le Batard]

There was a profile. I forget the young man's name that plays for UConn that's won all the titles with them last.

[Tony]

Caravan.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, Caravan. There was a profile on Caravan, and he took the opportunity to make a stance on immigration. And his eyes welled. He was tearing up about, like, the treatment of illegal immigrants in this country. It was a weird on ramp to that discussion, but it was obviously something that was bothering him and he got emotional. And I would have thought, given, you know, it's right before a big game, he's on network tv, it's Charles Barkley, that more would have been done with that. It just kind of came and went. I was like, was I the only

[Tony]

one that saw that Alex Caribbean, also from Southborough, Mass.

[Dan Le Batard (show host)]

So I don't know.

[Tony]

Dante DiVincenzo situation.

[Dan Le Batard]

Like I said, it was a weird on ramp.

[Stugats]

Make threes from half court and we'll make him ours. The thing I wanted to mention about Charles, though, because it can be said without anyone refuting it, that there has never been anyone in the history of sports broadcasting like him. No one is allowed to endure for as long as he has as an American voice, never mind someone who got that way. Polarizing like that just never happens. And it'll never happen again either. But he got a lot of criticism when him and Dick Vital did one of these broadcasts. Because the sanctity of the broadcast is such that even those two legendary personalities, it became old guys telling stories. And it got a lot of criticism because Charles is 60 now. Charles is an old broadcaster. And Charles getting emotional is one of the human things that makes him endure when four decades is not normal to be this kind of voice. And he's human in a way that people. And when he talks about stuff and cries on television, it still means something somehow.

[Dan Le Batard]

I don't know if he's. Is he old? I mean, he's always kind of had old guy opinions for a broadcaster. I was stunned to find out Bill Raftery didn't call his first Final Four until he was 72 years old.

[Mike]

How was Bill Raftery? Because he was always on the B team. He was always on the B team. And then like when they got to like the A games, it was not him, it was Jim Nance.

[Dan Le Batard]

It's kind of like a Mandela effect because like his voice is just always associated with these huge sweeping moments and his emotion always meets it that you would think that he was the voice of these big games.

[Mike]

I'll give you another one. Bill Walton never called NBA Finals because Bill Walton was on the B team. It was him, Tom Hammond and Steve Snapper Jones. And the A team was always like Costas and Doug Collins or Marv Albert and Doug Collins. Marv Albert, Doug Collins, Isaiah Thomas. Like, there was an A team and a B team. And even though we always think of Bill Walton's incredible, he never called the big game.

[Stugats]

Can I just segue from what it is that we are talking about here into the story involving Pukinakua? Because I've been remiss in not mentioning this before now because there's a set of circumstances here that is unusual. Right. Earlier this week we spent some time discussing like, is Puka okay? His football damaged him. What's going on with the Internet videos where he's passing out in public. And we invoke Junior Seau as in part of a larger conversation when a guy is spinning out and crashing publicly and might be self medicating because his sport hurts. And some of these guys are going to medicate because they need to just stop physically hurting because some of what they do is insane. We now have news. And this is unusual. I mean, you tell me how private this normally happens. I'm surprised today that I was surprised that I don't more often see in sports before anyone has actually failed a drug test and been caught by the league. People doing the celebrity rehab thing of both image and public facing everything, raising their hand and saying through their lawyer, yeah, I'm going to rehab, I need help with some things. I don't see that very often in sports. Why don't I see that very often in sports? It seems like a pretty simple thing for people to need help before there are public crash outs on. Yeah, I need to go take care of something. I'm. I need help.

[Mike]

Well, typically the public crash outs are the indicator that, oh man, I'm help. Because up until that point, the addict always believes I have everything under control. I'm fine. No, you know, so I, I get Loose a little time sometimes some of you have some fun. But I always know, I always know my limits. That's how they talk. And then something happens that demonstrates to them you have absolutely no control over your limits. And that's usually the light bulb that goes off.

[Dan Le Batard]

And this was revealed by his lawyer who said that he entered treatment before news of this assault allegation came out. Which means when we were wondering, like, is he okay? This is concerning behavior. He was in treatment. So credit to him and his team for getting him the help that he very clearly needed.

[Stugats]

One of the things though that's interesting about this to me, right. Is public drinking crash outs in the modern age from superstar athletes. Not really seeing them in the major sports very much.

[Dan Le Batard]

We also don't, to be fair and to not be reckless, despite how this sounds. We don't know if it's just alcohol. We don't know what he's checking.

[Stugats]

Oh, no, wait, wait, wait. But his attorney, Levi did give us some information because what he said is just rehab to deal with an assortment of life issues. They've been unclear about what the crash out is, but there's no disputing that there's a crash out that has now required Levi to thunder in. And that's his attorney. That is his attorney. That is his. His attorney.

[Mike]

That's not his actual attorney. That is his actual AI joke that we've.

[Chris Cody]

No, it's me in 20 years.

[Stugats]

No, that is.

[Louis]

No, it truly is.

[Stugats]

That is the guy, huh? He's riding in on behalf of mental health and 20.

[Chris Cody]

Yes.

[Dan Le Batard (show host)]

Wow.

[Chris Cody]

That's right.

[Louis]

I said what I said.

[Tony]

You know, much of a mustache guy.

[Chris Cody]

Defend yourself.

[Mike]

He can be.

[Dan Le Batard]

He doesn't want to be.

[David Sampson]

Yeah, I don't want to be.

[Chris Cody]

Not a good look.

[Mike]

I mean, let's take a look at that. That's your future.

[Tony]

That's a good look, though.

[Stugats]

Not a good look for the audio audience. Levi does not look 20 years older than Chris Cody. If Chris Cody 30.

[Louis]

He also doesn't look like a Levi.

[Mike]

Dude, I didn't want to say it, but the name by itself, before I even saw his picture, the name was kind of confusing.

[Louis]

I said last name does it for you.

[Mike]

Yeah, yeah. But that's the two combinations.

[Stugats]

Mcathern McCathern is the last name for the audio audience. Okay. This is a cowboy lawyer who looks

[Chris Cody]

like it could be this guy's son. Get out of here.

[Louis]

You guys are.

[Tony]

I mean, he looks like Champ kind inflated Champ.

[Mike]

Khan had a lot.

[Chris Cody]

You guys have me being older than this guy.

[David Sampson]

Get out of here.

[Chris Cody]

I look great.

[Stugats]

Chris. Cody, this is what I'm going to tell you just happened in that room. I'm sorry to do this to you. It is what happened. I don't think I will be misrepresenting either Mike or Tony here. If we gave you a light blue jacket right now, that outfit and that hat and you made that same gesture, we could put those pictures side by

[Chris Cody]

side like what was that 20 years ago?

[Stugats]

People would say those people are roughly the same age.

[Chris Cody]

I disagree.

[Stugats]

That's what you can disagree. That's that you cannot disagree with what happened behind you because I saw it and you did not. They could be wrong, Chris. It came out as 20 years, huh? And the reason it came out that way is because both of them registered as. I'm not sure Levi's older than Chris.

[Mike]

The McCathern brothers give me his age.

[Louis]

Crystal owes a couple of grit of death punishments. So I now have this one. I'll do that.

[Dan Le Batard]

Roy Clones colors. You can do that. Hello, listeners and friends. Boy, the feedback on that night that I had with my good friend Mo Cheddar while we were drinking Miller Lights watching hoops, it's been outstanding. So much so that we've decided to do it again. That's right. I'm gonna pick up the phone and call up my good buddy Mo Chedda and say, hey, this college hoops tournament is still roaring. Why don't you come over and on your way over, pick up some Miller Lite anywhere they sell beer and let's put those bad boys on ice. I'm gonna take that first sip. I'm gonna look at Mochetta and say, you know what? We made the right call. Next thing you know, we'll be fully locked in. Somebody's pacing. Someone else is doing their live bracket math like it's a job. That's why you reach for Miller Light. Just 96 calories and 3.2 carbs. The original light beer since 1975. And it still hits different cheers to legendary moments with Miller Lite. Great taste. 96 calories. Go to millerlight.com dan to find delivery options near you. Or you can pick up some Miller Lite pretty much anywhere they sell beer. It's Miller time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.

[Dan Le Batard (show host)]

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[Dan Le Batard]

hey, Roy, buddy.

[Dan Le Batard (show host)]

Yo.

[Dan Le Batard]

You know that energy shift when the game gets good and everybody all together in unison knows to stand up on their feet?

[Dan Le Batard (show host)]

Oh, absolutely, Mike.

[Jeremy]

Yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

You've been at many big time sporting events. You know that moment quite well. That's what it's like when you take your first sip of Cuervo.

[Dan Le Batard (show host)]

Oh, delicious.

[Dan Le Batard]

It's the signal that says, we're not checking the time anymore, pal. It's when small talk turns into stories. Cuervo, man. It's that high five. A random stranger effect. That's right. The game is popping. You're hugging people you never met before. That's the kind of energy that Cuervo brings. It's so smooth, so delicious. That's the Cuervo effect. Keep it Cuervo. Don LeBatard. In terms of Heat fans, you're the most irrational of us right now.

[Stugats]

What's the pivot?

[Chris Cody]

How irrational?

[Dan Le Batard]

Stugats

[Stugats]

hear your voice. If I were making a cartoon thing that was meant to symbolize irrational, that's the voice I would give higher.

[Chris Cody]

Premise Premise.

[Dan Le Batard (show host)]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats.

[Stugats]

Roy, can I get a verdict here on what has happened here? Because it happened behind you as well and you might not have gotten a good look at it either.

[Mike]

Either.

[Stugats]

But I really do feel like Mike and Tony both said Levi is not appreciably older than Chris. Cody. And the cowboy hat helps you, Chris, if I take your hat off and show your hair.

[Dan Le Batard (show host)]

Oh, that is a damn shame.

[Dan Le Batard]

The smaller cowboy hat does make you look younger.

[Mike]

It does look like his little brother.

[Stugats]

Roy, what is the age difference between those two human beings? If I gave you no other information other than those photos, definitely only 15 to 20.

[Dan Le Batard (show host)]

He is on par. He's right.

[Dan Le Batard]

Roy gets it. Who's younger?

[Louis]

All right.

[Tony]

Doing a little research on his page under the rising from humble roots part of his website. Levi was porn.

[Dan Le Batard]

This is Levi's and not Chris's.

[Dan Le Batard (show host)]

Yeah.

[Mike]

Yeah.

[Tony]

Levi was born in Texas and went to Baylor and got a bachelor's of arts degree in 1990. So that means he's college age. Graduating in 1992.

[Chris Cody]

In 1990, I was born in 87,

[Mike]

so that would put him somewhere in his 50s.

[Chris Cody]

Oh, imagine that. 20 years older than me.

[Dan Le Batard (show host)]

Right on par.

[Stugats]

So this could be your father.

[Dan Le Batard]

It was really more of an opinion on how you've aged.

[Chris Cody]

Yeah, I look great. Dude, look at.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah.

[Chris Cody]

Are you not looking? Are we not looking at the same thing?

[Dan Le Batard (show host)]

Yes, we are.

[Tony]

The smaller hat does make you look

[Louis]

like a little Chris. You look great. Don't let them tell you different.

[Stugats]

It really did take 15 years off you. The fact that they brought in a toy hat of some sort.

[Mike]

It's like, levi, make sure you take your little brother with you.

[Stugats]

Oh, Ma, I hate it when I

[Mike]

had to take him.

[Stugats]

Like your slow little brother. Fine.

[Mike]

Come on.

[Dan Le Batard (show host)]

Oh, whoa.

[Mike]

Christopher shows up like, hi, Levi. I got my hat on just like you.

[Louis]

It was worse than the Jose thing.

[Chris Cody]

I love this side by side. I've never felt better about myself.

[Dan Le Batard]

So in closing, credit to Pukinakua for getting treatment. That's mighty big of him and brave, and we hope for the best. Guys, you remember how I had this long standing. Take that. If I had a time machine. The one place I'd want to go is the cabin that reportedly John Travolta and Nicholas Cage rented for a weekend in the woods while they were preparing to start shooting Face off to get everybody's mannerisms down, right. To learn each other inside and out. The new place that I want to travel to is the quarterback Room in Las Vegas.

[Dan Le Batard (show host)]

Wow.

[Dan Le Batard]

When Kirk Cousins meets Fernando Mendoza. I can't imagine how long that handshake is gonna be. It's gonna be a lot. How you doing? Hi. Great to meet you. Fernando Mendoza. It's an honor to meet you. What are you doing here? I can't wait. What are you doing here? To go on this ride with me? I saw you playing in Atlanta. You do great stuff. Big fan. Big fan. How you are A big fan of yours, A big fan of how you approach.

[Tony]

I like your family values.

[Dan Le Batard]

Oh, I love yours.

[Tony]

I love yours.

[Dan Le Batard]

How's your dad?

[David Sampson]

He's great.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah.

[Jeremy]

How's your family?

[Dan Le Batard]

My family? Great. How do you like your steak?

[Louis]

Medium.

[Dan Le Batard]

I don't season it at all.

[Stugats]

There will be a Mr. Cousins in there.

[Louis]

Yeah, that's the one place where you guys had a run. Mr. Cousins, nice to meet you. I'm Fernando Mendoza.

[Dan Le Batard]

Please, please, call me Kirk Cousins.

[Chris Cody]

I'm gonna make you better. No, I'm gonna make you better.

[Stugats]

You guys mentioned earlier that that quarterback room is going to lead the league in corny. How often are we doing that to the quarterbacks in that league? Often.

[Mike]

I think most of the quarterbacks tend to be more gosh, like yeah, buttoned down, button up and like not.

[Tony]

But there's a balance, right. If you have a corny guy, you probably don't have another corny guy as a. As a backup.

[Dan Le Batard]

Some of my friends tell me I'm super cool. Good hang.

[Mike]

I mean, is that a ghost like Mahomes plays Exciting. Kind of a corny dude.

[Dan Le Batard]

Is he a corny dude? You got to get out the Tahoe. Yeah, he's one of those guys now.

[Stugats]

People don't look at him that way. Wait a minute. What are we doing here? Because I want to be accurate about this. Okay.

[Mike]

Who's corny?

[Stugats]

Well, because I. This is why if we're going to start here. Look, the Fernando Mendoza story is unbelievably charming. Just a staggering story from start to finish. But now you're going to get him in a corny off with Kirk Cousins, who, I mean is. Even when he's. You like that. Even his defiance we laugh at because it's just. No, you're corny and you're defiant. Your crowning achievement moment. It's not easy to throw for 400 yards in that league. We still think you're corny. We buried Russell Wilson and corny. Like you guys are going to put this as the corniest quarterback room in the league.

[Dan Le Batard]

I got it. As iron sharp sharpens iron man. This is the perfect mentor for Fernando Mendoza. If we could hand pick a mentor for Fernando Mendoza, many people were saying he reminds us of Kirk Cousins. His approach to the game. This is perfect. This is amazing.

[Stugats]

Quarterbacks are supposed to be cool. It doesn't have to be Joe Burrow, but it's not like it doesn't have to. Like.

[Mike]

I don't agree.

[Louis]

I think Fernando's cool.

[Tony]

It's a literal match made in heaven.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes.

[Mike]

Is Bo Nicks cool?

[Lewis]

Yeah.

[Mike]

I think you guys are conflating good with cool.

[Dan Le Batard]

That's right. Yeah.

[Chris Cody]

Maybe I'm just doing good looking with Bo Nix.

[Dan Le Batard]

I don't think Bonix is cool. Yeah.

[Stugats]

I don't that cool.

[Dan Le Batard]

Cool is like a bonus when it comes to quarterback. Your first guy. Like just because he got a corny quarterback doesn't mean you got a bad one.

[Mike]

Right? Exactly.

[Dan Le Batard]

So like corny either way. Like sometimes I think the bus factor is higher probably on the cool guys. The overly cool guys gotta be too cool.

[Stugats]

Can we throw Tom Brady into this equation? In the handshake when they all meet each other because he.

[Mike]

Look, he wanted to be in the quarterback room too.

[Stugats]

He is somebody. He is. He's a robot. He's. He's a seven time champion. And maybe you guys would regard Kirk Cousins differently if he was all the same things and a seven time champion.

[Mike]

Hold on. Let me introduce another contender. Brock Purdy and McCorkle Jones.

[Chris Cody]

Brock Purdy's not cool. That's a great example.

[Mike]

Corkle Jones was his backup.

[Stugats]

Brock.

[Dan Le Batard]

Brock's got some juice to him.

[Mike]

Come on. The pride and joy of Perry High School.

[Dan Le Batard]

Brock has some juice.

[Tony]

He's right.

[Dan Le Batard]

Because he's got that Levi's contract. It's playing games with you. His teammates say Brock's got some juice.

[Chris Cody]

He would fit right in with Kirk.

[Dan Le Batard]

You're just doing the white thing.

[Chris Cody]

No, you're doing the Christian Bo Nicks doesn't fit.

[Mike]

I'll tell you who's cool. Jackson dart. That's cool. That's a cool Jackson dart. Scoreboard.

[Dan Le Batard]

But Jackson falls on the line like oh, this is the bus factor.

[David Sampson]

Cool.

[Mike]

He might be too cool.

[Dan Le Batard (show host)]

Yeah.

[Mike]

And I don't even think it's bus factor for him. I think he's just gonna run headfirst into something.

[Tony]

If you wear a chain.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, it's a bad.

[Tony]

What does that say about you if you're wearing a chain game?

[Mike]

It depends on what kind of chain he wears.

[Tony]

An iced out chain.

[Mike]

That's cool man. That's a cool quarterback.

[Stugats]

Another stat here on Victor Wembanyama. This from Mark Stein's researcher. He had 41 points and 18 rebounds in just 29 minutes last night. That's the third time he's had 40 and 10 in 30 minutes or less this season. That's the most such games in a season in NBA history. Passing Giannis in 20, 22, 2023. What are you shaking your head about?

[Tony]

To be fair, I mean could we name collectively me and you the starting lineup for the Warriors? Last night was a bad team.

[Mike]

It was a Santa Cruz war.

[Tony]

I don't even know if Dee Santos was playing.

[Dan Le Batard]

But yeah, that's, that's I don't know who that is.

[Tony]

He's been actually very good for them.

[Mike]

He's really good, man. He got paid this year too. No, it's true, Tony. But again he's done it multiple times now. That's the thing. It's not that he did it last night. It's that this is the most times it's happened ever in a single season. And that's what makes it so special is that he's doing this routinely.

[Tony]

Do you feel like him coming out and saying like I really care about the mvp. It's kind of like, man, I don't like that. Like why you care so much.

[Mike]

So I think we're at a point where to continue the conversation of cool. Too many people are trying to be cool. And so I welcome every time Victor Wembanyama gets aggressive and campaigns for any of these things. Cuz what I'm noticing what happens, it's forcing other guys to react to have to be like, well, so before Victor said his thing, I believe it was down here when he first said.

[Tony]

He said defense is part of it.

[Mike]

That was here. That was here. Right. Since then we've got Luka campaigning whether it's his coach or him or whatever. You got Shai Gilgis, Alexander, you've got obviously Kate Cunningham's.

[Tony]

Has Jokic said anything? Or he just continues to have triple doubles and lead the league and rebellion.

[Stugats]

He just wants horse before we get to pitch clock here, I just want a kind of music. I asked Roy before the show to find me music that would give off the pageantry. If you were to round up a roundtable of champions together and have like a ceremony where they're introducing champions of the future. Our looks like champions of the past need to be together here to celebrate

[Chris Cody]

what the games are this championship parade of sorts.

[Stugats]

All right, so bring all our champions in here from previous looks like tournament to all the voices, just one after another.

[Dan Le Batard]

Lou Holtz looks like a train conductor. Jay Cutler looks like the guy trying to break into a house on an alarm company commercial.

[Louis]

Jackie McMullen looks like your mom's friend Carol.

[Dan Le Batard]

Tony Saragusa looks like the guy about to take a bite of a hot dog only to have it stolen by spider man swinging overhead.

[Mike]

I miss Daniel Baldwin.

[Dan Le Batard]

Andy Reid looks like the spider that

[Stugats]

falls asleep while watching the prisoners wakes

[Dan Le Batard]

up briefly to yell out who's there? To no one in particular and immediately falls back asleep. While the prisoners continue to carefully reach for the jail cell keys dangling from his belt.

[Mike]

Old school skeleton keys.

[Dan Le Batard]

Doug Peterson Looks like he specifically asked for full custody of the basement air hockey table in his divorce.

[Louis]

That's Go piss, Mike.

[Mike]

Yeah.

[Louis]

Oh, I wasn't here yesterday.

[Mike]

Yeah, Paul George, look like your brother's

[David Sampson]

friend Devin, who everyone just calls D.

[Tony]

This one is so good, too. So good.

[Stugats]

Those are all of the champions, all time. And they are telling us that we've got four teams remaining in our tournament. So these are the matchups. Saturday. You've got Illinois. That's represented by Tony Reali.

[Dan Le Batard]

Tony Reali looks like the overzealous owner of an Italian restaurant who always greets you at the door with other. My favorite couple when you walk in. Perfect.

[Stugats]

Going up against UConn, represented by Adam Silver.

[Dan Le Batard]

Looks like a newly opened Chapstick.

[Stugats]

And then the championship is being played. Saturday night. It's Arizona.

[Dan Le Batard]

That means this Jonathan Zaslow looks like an off duty mime

[Stugats]

going up against Michigan, the most perfect one in the tournament.

[Dan Le Batard]

I thought Michael Smith looks like the high school teacher that motivates his students by sitting in a chair backwards.

[Stugats]

Video team. I don't know why you'd put up.

[Tony]

That's Michael Smith right there.

[Stugats]

Thibodeau instead of Michael Smith.

[Chris Cody]

Done this perfectly for weeks.

[Stugats]

Also kind of looks like that video team. You really botched that because Thibodeau does not look like that at all. And Michael Smith put it on the poll.

[Chris Cody]

They've nailed it a hundred times.

[Louis]

I want to hear you read it again.

[Stugats]

I want to see the poll at Le Batard show. Does Tom Thibodeau look like the opposite of Michael Smith?

[Mike]

I have a confession to make. Up until this point, I did not realize that Tom Thibodeau was black.

[Stugats]

The video team has ruined our tournament. We stumbled right at the end like

[Mike]

the guy who ran the marathon.

[Stugats]

We were doing that so well for weeks at a time. Pitch clock not done well. Next.

[Dan Le Batard (show host)]

Whoa.

[Chris Cody]

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[David Sampson]

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[Dan Le Batard]

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[David Sampson]

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[Dan Le Batard]

Don LeBatard it sounds to me like everybody could use a hug, because a hug is always the right size. Stugats All I have put in my body today is three cups of coffee and an entire cup of Go to the panel back.

[Chris Cody]

Don't let him fool you. He said in the break that he's jittery.

[Dan Le Batard (show host)]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the stugats.

[Louis]

All right, Louis, you're sitting in for Chris today. What I'm gonna need from you, okay? It's first, have fun.

[Jeremy]

Always.

[Louis]

Second, when I normally introduce the Show. I have Chris do a Harry Carrie. Hi, everybody. So, okay, all right. You're getting there. No, it's okay. You're ready to do that when the time comes.

[Jeremy]

That I am. And also, Ben Sheets.

[Louis]

Welcome to the pitch clock. Here's the pitch, a two part baseball seg combining a nostalgic baseball trivia game and an interview with an expert. This is the pitch clock. There's been about a week of baseball and we are here on the pitch clock for our second episode of the regular season.

[Jeremy]

Hi, everybody.

[Louis]

That's Lewis.

[Dan Le Batard]

Hey, Lewis.

[Lewis]

Not bad.

[Louis]

Lewis is sitting there. That's really good. Lewis is sitting here. Ah, that's, that's Ethan. And we now have two different Harry Carey impressions in replacement of Chris. Not forever, just for this week. Chris, I love you, but we couldn't wait for you to do this. Hey, so we're gonna have David Sampson here. We talked to him a couple of days ago about the first week ish of major league baseball. Some of his favorite things, some of his least favorite things. We'll get to that momentarily. He did a great job of getting everyone up to speed on what this week has been like. But of course, Louis, we're about to go head to head in some nostalgic baseball trivia.

[Jeremy]

I'm excited about this.

[Louis]

I'm excited to have you here.

[Chris Cody]

Yeah.

[Louis]

You did such a great job on the live stream with us.

[Stugats]

Us.

[Louis]

And I really look forward to getting to this with you.

[Lewis]

Lewis and I have talked more than we ever have because he's been sending me nostalgic baseball Instagram on or content on Instagram.

[Jeremy]

It's like, it's like a build. They do the build your team. You have 15.

[Lewis]

So if you guys would like to open your folders.

[Louis]

Oh boy.

[Lewis]

Inside there is a build your team.

[Louis]

Okay.

[Lewis]

And I took pretty much the same format, but I added on that team there were pitchers. I added outfielders instead. So you're gonna have $15.

[Louis]

Okay.

[Lewis]

In front of you there is a list of $5 players, $4 players, $3 players, $2 players, and $1 players. I'm going to require you, if you add all those one from each column up, you get $15. I'm going to require you to pick one player from each column. You have to spend $15. You cannot have money left over. You have to spend $15. Obviously you have to take, take one player from each position as well. Now how we're gonna do this is. Do you guys, Are you guys aware of the stat ISO?

[Louis]

Yeah, I am, but Lewis isn't So

[Lewis]

is your slugging percentage minus your on base percentage. So what you're looking for here is a guy who hit a lot of home runs but maybe wasn't the best on base artist.

[Dan Le Batard (show host)]

Cool.

[Lewis]

Okay.

[Jeremy]

It's a lot of.

[Lewis]

So you want the power guys with maybe less on base is what you're looking for. So we're gonna add up. I have in front of me each guy's ISO.

[Louis]

So in the five dollar column at

[Lewis]

first base you have Albert Pujols. At second base you have Chase Utley. At third base you have Alex Rodriguez, shortstop Derek Jeter, and in the outfield, Barry Bonds. In the four dollar column, Jim Tomi, Robinson, Cano Chipper Jones, Jimmy Rollins, Larry Walker. Three dollar column, Carlos Delgado, Jeff Kennedy, David Wright, Hanley Ramirez, Tory Hunter. Two dollar column, Paul Canerco, Brian Roberts, Aramis Ramirez, Jose reyes, Vernon Wells. $1 column, Sean Casey, Orlando Hudson, Mike Lowell, Edgar Renteria, Maglio Ordonez.

[Louis]

Man, this is going to be really, really tough.

[Lewis]

Okay, Lewis is going to go first since he's our new guest. Wow.

[Jeremy]

I get the first pick in the draft.

[Lewis]

You're going to go with the first pick in the draft.

[Jeremy]

Can I do that right now?

[Lewis]

Yes.

[Jeremy]

I'm taking Barry bottom bonds for $5 in the outfield.

[Lewis]

That is a very smart pick because Barry Bonds has a 309. I knew that ISO.

[Louis]

Ah, this is so tough. You know what I'm. Wow, you have made this really difficult in terms of strategy.

[Jeremy]

Obvious. There's an obvious.

[Louis]

I know what I'm in a lot

[Lewis]

of strategy into this.

[Jeremy]

You're the only comparable player to Barry Bonds.

[Louis]

Okay, don't tell me what to do. Don't tell me what to do. Albert Pujols is here. Yeah, but, but, but, but, but, but.

[Jeremy]

So I get it. So is Orlando Hudson.

[Louis]

So I can see why, you know, relax. What I'm wondering is, is there another player at that position that I can get a comparable ISO because they're slugging percentage specifically would be really, really high. And the disparity that I can get at another position is potentially higher.

[Dan Le Batard]

Correct.

[Louis]

So just purely for the fun of it, I'm gonna go first base. Jim Thome.

[Jeremy]

That's nice.

[Lewis]

A nice pick. Jim Tomey had a career 278.

[Louis]

So he had 278. You said it was 309 for Lewis.

[DraftKings Advertiser]

Correct.

[Louis]

278 for me.

[Jeremy]

You just saved a dollar, about 30 points there. So that's not too bad.

[Louis]

I'm gonna take it. Now after one week of Major League Baseball, our 2026 MLB expert for the day is the host of Nothing Personal with David Sampson. David Sampson is here with me. David, I'm excited to dive into this with you. And let's start right here. What was your favorite thing that you saw in Major League Baseball over opening weekend?

[David Sampson]

Well, to start with everything, just having baseball back when regular season starts, man, you know, it's like the, the first half mile of a marathon. And that's where we are now in, in football terms. Jeremy. We're like not even at halftime of Week 1 right now in the NFL, it's so early, but you just are getting into it and you don't know what the next six months will bring. I've loved watching games. I wish there were more of them on throughout the day. I'm not loving sort of the schedule, but that's a CBA issue we can talk about, but it's just so good to have it back.

[Louis]

One thing that was brought into Major League Baseball this year for the very first time is this, this ABS system. And everyone is having an overwhelmingly positive reaction to it thus far. The challenges, the, the drama that seems to ensue. You had Yoheno Suarez challenging back to back pitches against CB Buckner. You had a moment where Derek Shelton's getting tossed out because he thinks the Orioles pitcher doesn't tap the hat quick enough. Being in the ballpark in Miami, seeing folks react in, in, in real time to this incredibly quick. And I mean between the pitch clock and now this. A couple of great innovations for baseball the last couple of years. What's your takeaway from what you've seen in the reaction to abs?

[David Sampson]

I think you're going to find this will be the most important change that's happened in your lifetime. Because in my lifetime it is. And I have been having conversations with people, pitch clock and DH and ghost runner. This one is major. And here's why. The amount of strategy that is required given the parameters of the rule is significant. And it makes me wistful because I loved being in the National League when pitchers had to hit because you really had to manage the game and you were doing switch switches and pinch hitters and when do you hit for your pitcher and where do you move people in the lineup? And I just love that game. I understand the dh, but the strategy of when to do it is fascinating to me.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah.

[David Sampson]

And what you're going to see as the season progresses, I think you're going to see teams understand better how to use the challenges versus a random second inning. Even if you get it right. The risk is that if you get it wrong, you lose the challenge. It becomes a major deal because look at what the Yankees got. Aaron Judge an extra at bat because of a challenge against the Mariners. They didn't end up scoring, but you know what, you can. And that's something that we just hadn't seen before in baseball. So I love.

[Louis]

It's awesome. And what a great point that you made on it. Feeling a little bit like the old National League strategy. The fact that there's actually something here where you have to as an entire team, look at the at bats, who's up, who's in scoring position. Is it worth something in this moment where really right now the only other decisions managers are making are do you want a pinch hitter or you know, do you want a different reliever? And those things match up in different ways. So I. It's a great point that you make there with the strategy and something that like, like baseball fans love the chess, not checkers of the game of baseball, of thinking about that strategy for the long term.

[Jeremy]

All right, I'm gonna go with the second pick in my draft. I am, I am going to. So I was gonna go Albert Pujo. So I can't do that.

[David Sampson]

Well, why not?

[Louis]

Oh, wait, you did. Wait, you went. I went to.

[Jeremy]

Oh, then I'm gonna go Albert Pujols.

[Lewis]

Okay, so Albert Pujol.

[Dan Le Batard]

Holes.

[Lewis]

Jeremy, you were smart. Jeremy Albert Pujols, career 248 ice.

[Louis]

Ah, immediately vindicated.

[Jeremy]

Yeah, you me, I thought there's so much value on your dog.

[Lewis]

So Lewis is gonna have to go because he's got $10.

[Jeremy]

I already have my team.

[Louis]

Okay, I'm gonna go here for $3. Second baseman Jeff Kent.

[Jeremy]

Dude, you look, look, look.

[Louis]

If you just look, you just circle them at.

[Jeremy]

But it's okay because I had a backup pick.

[Lewis]

Jeff Kent has a career 210 ISO.

[Jeremy]

That's really bad after two rounds.

[Lewis]

He's crushing me right neck and neck, boys.

[Jeremy]

No, he's crushing me right now. I'm gonna take Dave Roberts at second base for $2.

[Lewis]

That would be Brian Roberts.

[Jeremy]

Brian. I'm sorry.

[Lewis]

Brian Roberts, I regret to inform you, has a career 133iso.

[Louis]

Oh, cuz he didn't sp. Going to go. I'm going to go. I'm gonna go four outfield. Larry Walker.

[Dan Le Batard]

Nice.

[Lewis]

Love that pick. You know, I'm a big bad pick. Big Larry Walker guy. 252 ISO.

[Dan Le Batard]

So a good pick.

[Chris Cody]

All right, that's not bad.

[Jeremy]

All right, I'm already ready with my pick. Okay, so let me bag this now. Jose Reyes for $2, please.

[Lewis]

Jose Reyes. A career 144.

[Louis]

Jesus.

[Jeremy]

These skinny guys up the middle suck, huh?

[Louis]

Yeah. I mean, you need a lot of slug.

[Jeremy]

Yeah, I keep forgetting the item.

[Louis]

Okay, so you're just. You're just going off building a team, and I get it.

[Stugats]

I'm building a nasty team, though.

[Louis]

Yeah. Move on here to some of the surprises in a. In a positive way here.

[Mike]

Who.

[Louis]

Who's a team that start may have surprised you the most. It could be negative if you. If you want to go that route.

[Dan Le Batard]

But.

[Louis]

But who's a team that stands out to you that in these first several games has kind of surprised you with the way that they've played?

[David Sampson]

Well, listen, it's early, but anytime you can win a game at Dodger Stadium, I'm gonna have to say that that team warrants some attention. And you look at what the Guardians do and how they have to operate, and they. They have a chance to have a new owner at the end of this year or at the latest in 2029, someone named David Blitzer, who is an owner of the Sixers and the Devils as well. And the Guardians just find a way. They trade players, they retool, and for whatever reason, they just find a way. And they're leading the Central Division. Obviously, after five games, it's hardly worth talking about. But that said, if you've never heard of their players, that makes you normal. And that's okay. Because the beauty of baseball is that any given day. But you look at them beat the Dodgers the way I watched earlier in the week, and you just realize that, okay, the Dodgers can't win 175 games this year. There's a way to beat them. Just like the way the Mariners beat the Yankees. There's going to be a moment when good pitching is always going to beat good hitting. And at the end, that's what we'll see for the next six months. But, Jeremy, my number one story has to be the Philadelphia Phillies. And when you choose to run it back and you watch your team get old, it happens really fast. And it looks like the Phillies when they. They let Castellanos go, but they brought back J.T. they resigned.

[Dan Le Batard]

Schwarber.

[David Sampson]

Bryce Harper is the worst hitter I've ever seen. Forget Elite. He's not. Not an average major leaguer right now. Except right now is not a week, Jeremy. This was the entire World Baseball Classic. Forget the game. Time to run home run in the eighth inning. Other than that swing the guy has been just there's off now. Is it possible that they all aged at the same time and they're all going to be bad? Well, that would make for a long bad year for the Phillies, which Jeremy I predicted because I don't have them making the playoffs in my preseason predictions. But man, do they look bad.

[Louis]

I do remember talking to you about that and, and it is the, the wary nature of trying to run it back and get to a World Series with a team that is aging sort of all around you at once. We'll see if Bryce Harper can recover with some more of that raw milk. Let's talk about the stars of of the week here, David, because you know, you mentioned the guardians. Chase Delauder, a guy who had a ridiculous start, obviously. Joey Weimer with the Washington Nationals I think became the first player like since era or maybe set a record to reach base safely 10 straight times.

[Lewis]

Former Marlin Joey Weimer, they DFA'd him

[Louis]

earlier in the year. But David, who stands out? We're talking stars of the week, you know, whatever direction you want to go with it.

[Mike]

Who.

[Louis]

Who's a star for you?

[David Sampson]

The Nationals are in first place. I mean they're tied with the Marlins and the Mets, but hell yeah, first place after. After several games. But what I'm really focused on is starting pitching and what I'm really watching are the WBC players specifically for the United States who have really had a tough start. All of them Cal Raleigh. Yes, he did have a walk off against the Yankees on the first game of that series, but he actually didn't play that game. Yeah, he's been dreadful and he never rests the pitchers, skins. Yeah, o' Neill Cruz had bad plays in center field but he looked hittable and he's never looked hittable his whole career. Nola Boyd and the list goes on to Harper and the hitters on that team. Aaron Judge, Webb, by the way, Logan Webb, who needs to recover and start too. So I'm watching that because owners all of the greatness of the WBC and it's been so positive where the view is. Let's do more, let's make it bigger. Let's move it to Miami permanently. Let's think about July, let's think about March. Let's do it twice. Guess what? You'll lose votes in ownership if the players who played end up having not just slow starts, but it bleeds to the entire season where they do not match the numbers of the back of their baseball cards. Owners will blame the WBC rightly or wrongly, they will do it. And that will have a greater impact on the growth of WBC than any of the greatness that we saw in March.

[Louis]

So God bless Christopher Sanchez for getting off to a hot start with that first start as a guy who pitched for the Dr. Sandy Alcantara as well, a guy who had an incredible, incredible performance for the Marlins in his first start. But it is more of those Team USA guys and, and oftentimes those are the bigger stars across Major League Baseball. David, I look forward to having you on here on the pitch clock. Hey, we'll call it maybe once a month or so. It'll be a lot of fun. Go check out all of the work that he's doing with nothing personal. We will talk to you soon. Let's get back to our trivia game between me and Luke Lewis. Okay, so with where we're at, you have $1 left after four picks.

[Lewis]

There is literally only one player. There's only one player hit left he can take because he has a third baseman.

[Louis]

Okay, but.

[Lewis]

Third baseman.

[Louis]

But what if I want that player? Because I do. I do want that player.

[Lewis]

I didn't consider this proposition.

[Louis]

This is where we're at. I want that player.

[Jeremy]

Take. Take Mike Lowell.

[Tony]

Yeah, yeah.

[Louis]

But, but what ends up happening here? Because if I take that player and then he has $1 left.

[Jeremy]

Can, can we get a repick.

[Louis]

How did you do this?

[Jeremy]

I. I'll do.

[Dan Le Batard]

I'll tell you what, Ethan.

[Jeremy]

No, no, he's right.

[Stugats]

He's right.

[Jeremy]

I'll. I'll tell you what. Would you allow me to take back Jose Reyes and give me Edgar Renteria, who is what. Who I really wanted Because I was going to go Michael Edgar Renteria, and

[Louis]

then you get a Ramis Ramirez. Yeah, that's fine. I'll. I'll you a give.

[Jeremy]

All right.

[Louis]

All right.

[Lewis]

So we're making a trade.

[Louis]

So we're gonna let him get to his fifth pick. He gets Edgar, but I don't want Jose Reyes.

[Lewis]

So we're gonna, we're gonna go back a little bit.

[Stugats]

Okay?

[Dan Le Batard (show host)]

So.

[Louis]

No, no, no, it's fine. It's fine. I'm gonna explain this perfectly. This team is locked in. Lewis's team is locked in right now. I'll tell you, your team. You have Barry Bonds.

[Stugats]

Yes.

[Louis]

You have Albert Pujos, you have Brian Roberts. You have Aramis Ramirez.

[Depop Advertiser]

Correct.

[Louis]

And you have Edgar Renteria.

[Jeremy]

Correct.

[Louis]

I am going to end up with Jim Tome.

[Stugats]

Nice.

[Louis]

With Larry Walker, with Jeff Kent, with Hanley Ramirez.

[Jeremy]

You can have that.

[Louis]

And With Mike Lowell.

[Jeremy]

That's the one.

[Lewis]

Okay, so you're drafting Hanley and Michael.

[Louis]

That's right.

[Lewis]

So it still has Brian Roberts. Right?

[Mike]

Right.

[Louis]

It does look like Michael.

[Lewis]

Yeah, it does look like. Our editor, Gabe aramis had a 209.

[Louis]

That's not bad.

[Lewis]

So pretty solid. But rentoria 112.

[Jeremy]

Wow. The worst.

[Lewis]

Not a lot of power. So that is the worst number on here.

[Jeremy]

Did he have like a 28 home run season?

[Lewis]

Everybody had a 28 home run.

[Louis]

He played in that era.

[Lewis]

You know what I mean?

[Dan Le Batard]

So he.

[Lewis]

Lewis's final ISO is 1.011. So Jeremy finished with Hanley and Michael

[Louis]

and Hanley and Lowell each had what?

[Lewis]

So Hanley had a 197.

[Jeremy]

Yeah, he crushed me. It's over.

[Lewis]

And LOL had a 185 closer than the experts think. So Lewis's final total 1.011. Jeremy is the winner. His total 1.12. 2 2.

[Tony]

Wow.

[Louis]

That's pretty close.

[Lewis]

Just over 100 points.

[Jeremy]

No, that's separating guys. That's a full player.

[Lewis]

Less than 200.

[Louis]

Okay. But can we.

[Jeremy]

Yeah, that's a full. You have a full player better than me, which is. You cannot be more efficient with your money.

[Louis]

I felt very efficient.

[Lewis]

Jeremy. Jeremy got off on the right foot with Jim Tome. And I thought Lewis had something cooking with Barry Bonds. I had it just made some of the wrong selection.

[Jeremy]

Brian. You know what? I was doing an actual lineup.

[Louis]

Yeah, you were. You were doing an actual lineup. Hey.

[Mike]

Hey.

[Louis]

That was fun.

[Lewis]

That was fun.

[Jeremy]

I'll do this again every day of my life if I had to.

[Louis]

All right, so tomorrow.

[Jeremy]

Yep.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes.

[Louis]

Pitch clock every day for the rest of your life.